Bibliophile's Corner

A Collection of Winnie-the-Pooh Stories
A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard

The Best Bear in All the World
by Paul Bright, Brian Sibley, Jeanne Willis, & Kate Saunders
Illustrated by Mark Burgess

Amazon Description:

For the 90th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh, a sequel featuring new stories from the Hundred Acre Wood.

The Trustees of the Pooh Properties have commissioned four authors to write in the timeless style of A.A. Milne to create a quartet of charming new adventures for Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin, and their friends. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall: take a trip back to the Hundred Acre Wood with a collection of tales sure to delight year-round.

My Thoughts:

The recently released collection of new Winnie-the-Pooh stories - The Best Bear in All the World - is delightful! I thoroughly enjoyed the imaginative tales with their accompanying whimsical illustrations. There is a story set in each of the four seasons - and even one new character introduced.(Inspired by one of the real Christopher Robin's stuffed animals.) If you're a fan of Winnie-the-Pooh, this little book is a must read. I highly recommend The Best Bear in All the World for children - and book collectors - of all ages!

Storyteller's Journey

Dummy Book title page for Journey to Snowdonia

Dummy Books and Other Aids

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, the next Lindstrom Wintertime Tale - Journey to Snowdonia - is scheduled to be released in the fall.


One of the steps along the path to publication was to create a dummy book for our yuletide tale. Since we publish these illustrated short stories independently, this one via our small press, Thistleberry Books, we are not required to make a dummy book. However, there are several advantages to creating one. I like seeing images pertaining to the tales I pen, it helps me have a sense of the flow of the story. It's also a great way to share the vision of your story with fellow writers, and in some cases, agents and editors. If you plan to write & illustrate a picture book and have it traditionally published, a "dummy" is a must.

The "one sheet" for my MG novel: Livvi Biddle.

Another great way to present your work is a "one sheet." It's a printed page with your pitch, an image that represents your story, and your contact information. While it's true you should be able to recite your elevator pitch in a moment's notice, having a "one sheet" is a bit of security. Also, if an agent is interested in your idea, you can simply give her the page.



Finally, there are endless ways you can inspire and inform yourself with regard to your stories. A "Missing Person" poster for your protagonist; a "Wanted" poster for your antagonist; or even a collage of interesting images that represent your plot, setting, &/or characters.

Be sure to save these fun and creative crafts. I failed to keep a couple for my very first novel, The Tale of Willaby Creek; I'm really bummed now. It's nostalgic to look back on your storyteller's journey!

Note: If you're a member of SCBWI, be sure to read the wonderful article in the recent Winter Bulletin by author, Candice Ransom. She creates a dummy book for her novels. I think I'll give that a try!

Whimsical Word of the Week

Circumlocution - noun
the use of unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea.
Example: The author was guilty of circumlocution in her writing, making the word count in her manuscript much too high.

Bibliophile's Corner

The Secret Keepers
by Trenton Lee Stewart

Amazon Description:
Eleven-year-old Reuben spends his days exploring, hiding, and practicing parkour among the abandoned buildings of the Lower Downs as a way to escape the rough times that have befallen him and his mom--but his discovery of an extraordinary antique pocket watch changes everything. When Reuben finds that the watch has the power to turn him invisible, he's propelled on the adventure of a lifetime.
Now Reuben is being pursued by a group of dangerous men called the Directions, and someone--or something--ominously called The Smoke. They all want the watch, and with the help of new friends, it's up to Reuben to unravel the mysteries surrounding it and protect the city from evil.

My Thoughts:
Trenton Lee Stewart - the author of The Mysterious Benedict Society Series - has penned another amazing novel for middle grade readers! The Secret Keepers is full of adventure, mystery, and magic; its characters are highly developed and riveting. The complex plot will keep readers of all ages guessing, right up to the last paragraph. I highly recommend The Secret Keepers to readers aged eight to eighty!

Click here to learn more about the author, Trenton Lee Stewart.

Storyteller's Journey

Questions for America

This post is in honor of the 2017 United States Presidential Inauguration.

Photo Credit: Public Domain




A Fervent Wind

A fervent wind meanders through the forests, over the mountains, and across the prairies.

It creeps into every church, every mosque, every synagogue.

It wends its way through every window, every door, in every corner of the land.

The wind whispers into each ear, asking each heart:

Who is your brother?

Who is your neighbor?

Who is your responsibility?

The fervent wind is noble; its purpose is just.

How will we answer the wind, America?

Whimsical Word of the Week

Denouement - noun
the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.
Example: The author had difficulty with the denouement of her novel.

Bibliophile's Corner

Finding Wonders
by Jeannine Atkins

Amazon Description:
A novel in verse about three girls in three different time periods who grew up to become groundbreaking scientists.
Maria Merian was sure that caterpillars were not wicked things born from mud, as most people of her time believed. Through careful observation she discovered the truth about metamorphosis and documented her findings in gorgeous paintings of the life cycles of insects.

More than a century later, Mary Anning helped her father collect stone sea creatures from the cliffs in southwest England. To him they were merely a source of income, but to Mary they held a stronger fascination. Intrepid and patient, she eventually discovered fossils that would change people’s vision of the past.

Across the ocean, Maria Mitchell helped her mapmaker father in the whaling village of Nantucket. At night they explored the starry sky through his telescope. Maria longed to discover a new comet—and after years of studying the night sky, she finally did. 

My Thoughts:
Finding Wonders makes you look at the world and see the magic in everything around you. It's a book that every child would enjoy and benefit from, but especially young girls. The fact that Ms. Atkins wrote her novel in verse, makes it all the more enchanting. I highly recommend Finding Wonders to readers aged eight to fourteen.

Click here to learn more about the author, Jeannine Atkins.